In this edition of Remember This? the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library tells us about the history of the Steelton Town Hall:
The Town of Steelton, located north of Cathcart Street and west of North Street, in the vicinity surrounding the Algoma Steel Corporation was incorporated in April of 1904.
Steelton budgeted $10,000 for the construction of a Town Hall.
The foundation was laid on November 1, 1906 and the building was opened in April 1907.
The Town Hall was used to conduct township business, police services and included a jail cell in the basement.
Unfortunately the new town failed to attract significant business taxation to pay for its services forcing several schools to operate in private homes.
Steelton, and its 7,000 residents, as a result of an earlier plebiscite, were absorbed by the city of Sault Ste. Marie on January 1, 1918.
Within days of amalgamation Steelton Mayor Walter Stringer and council met at town hall for a final time and passed a motion: "That now we adjourn forever."
In 1919 the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library opened its first branch library – the West End Branch –in the former Steelton Town Hall.
It was specifically called the West End Branch because it was not considered proper to perpetuate the use of the name Steelton given the fact that Steelton had amalgamated with the City of Sault Ste. Marie in 1918.
Up until the time the circulating library was opened, there had merely been a reading room at this location.
Once the library was opened, the Main Library shipped 800 volumes to the West End Branch.
The West Branch was closed temporarily in 1923 due to financial problems but reopened in 1924.
It remained open and renamed the Steelton Branch Library serving the residents of the west end of the community until it closed permanently on June 30th, 1992.
Since then it has continued to be a central part of the neighbourhood in its function as a Seniors’ Centre.
Find out more of what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more Remember This? columns here.